Tag Archives: monofilament wig

What are monofilament wigs? We get that question from new customers a lot. The term itself requires some explanation, but more importantly, the main advantage to a monofilament wig is the natural appearance it provides. The Wig Experts will break down the details for you. Keep reading or watch the video below.

Among the various wig options available on the market, monofilament wigs are distinct due to their unique traits and benefits. Mono-Part, Mono-Top and Mono-Crown all refer to types of monofilament wig cap constructions. Whether you’ve experienced complete or partial hair loss, these wigs are considered the best choice due to their light weight, comfort and styling options. This is extremely important if your hair loss is caused by medical illness and your scalp is more sensitive to weight and temperature. Women with these concerns find the monofilament construction and quality in these wigs the ideal solution.

The biggest misconception about monofilament is that it only identifies the way the cap is constructed. Actually, monofilament refers to the materials from which it’s made. The monofilament materials are available in French or Swiss lace and come in wide ranges of texture, referring to either fine monofilament or welded monofilament. The construction of a monofilament wig consists of a thin mesh nylon fabric that resembles a natural scalp. This fine material is exceptionally preferable because it allows proper ventilation, leaving less heat trapped underneath the wig, reducing friction on the scalp. The manufacturer ultimately decides on the type of monofilament material to be used based on durability and preference. Many wig caps offer a combination of monofilament and other materials to enhance the overall product features.

Monofilament construction is the most natural because the hair, either individually or in a tiny bundle of just a few, is usually always hand sewn in to the thin nylon fabric. Each hair therefore, comes directly up out of the sheer nylon instead of laying flat as you see in non monofilament wigs. This makes it look like the hair in the wig is actually growing right out of your own scalp! These wigs give the illusion of natural hair growth since the sheerness of the fabric at the scalp blends in with the actual color of your complexion. For that reason, this construction makes the wig virtually undetectable. The monofilamentconstruction ensures that even if the wig hair is styled and parted in a different direction, the wig’s construction will not be revealed. Combining the thinness of the fabric and the sheer color will make you forget you are wearing a wig at all!

Because the monofilament construction gives the appearance of natural hair growth from the scalp, many refer to monofilament wigs as “skin wigs”. There are basically two different methods of monofilament construction, hand-tied and machine-sewn. More than 95% of monofilament wigs are hand-tied. Machine made monofilament wigs are generally found in the African American wigs. In a hand-tied construction, each hair is individually sewn onto an area of the wig cap’s base, depending where the appearance of natural growth is needed. Another advantage of hand-tying each hair is that it tightly secures the hair strands to the material, reducing the amount of shedding. This technique gives the most realistic looking wig styles because it allows the movement of the hair to begin at the scalp. Machine-sewn monofilament wigs have the same benefits as a hand-tied, but instead of single hairs, small groups of hair are tied together. This reduces the amount of movement achieved by a hand-tied wig, but will also make the wig less expensive to create.

Monofilament wigs are in high demand, which in turn makes them readily available from most of our top brands in all the latest and most desired hair styles. The wide variety of styles available expand from short to long, straight to wavy or curly, and more. You are sure to find your favorite color and style among the many monofilament wigs available at Wigs.com!

As we’ve learned before in our previous monofilament wig post, wigs made with a monofilament cap construction are super natural looking wigs. The monofilament wig hand-knotting process is long and tedious, but the result is incredibly natural! Since each strand of hair is manually hand-knotted into the monofilament material this allows the hair to lie and flow naturally. There’s much to learn about monofilament wigs, so let’s chat about the different types of monofilament wigs!

Hand-Tied Monofilament Wigs

Monofilament Wig: Top

The first we’ll talk about are monofilament tops (also known as mono tops). A monofilament top covers the entire top part of the wig. This is where you would naturally part your hair. Also, these wigs have open-wefted sides and back, which are machine made. The mono top is a mesh-like material with individual strands of either synthetic or human hair hand-knotted into it. In terms of flexibility, these are the kinds of wigs you would get the most out of.

Monofilament Wig: Part

A monofilament part is a part line located at a fixed location on the wig. The designated section features a thin strip of monofilament. So, you can purchase a wig with a left, right or center monofilament part. A mono part has a more affordable cost compared to a monofilament top wig. The part, however, cannot be changed – so choose wisely!

Monofilament Wig: Crown

As the name suggests the monofilament is placed at the crown of the wig. This construction is more commonly found in bob wig styles. The benefits of having a mono crown wig are that it distributes the hair evenly and naturally at the root. Also it gives the look of natural hair growth at the crown of the hair, which makes your bob wig much more believable.

FAQ Monofilament Wig

Yes, they are but remember the monofilament material is delicate so it should be treated carefully. Do not pull harshly on the hair because this could loosen up the hand-knotted strands of hair.

Can I wash my monofilament wig the same as my other wigs?

Yes, you may wash your monofilament wig but do not add conditioner at the root. The conditioner will loosen up the hand-knotted strands of hair.

If I color my human hair wig, will it stain the monofilament?

Because the monofilament material is sheer and thin it will add a hint of color but will not stain the monofilament wig completely. The monofilament top, part or crown will still have a realistic look.

Want the look of a monofilament wig for less? A Skin Part wig gives you a natural looking part without the high cost. However, these wigs are not to be confused with hand-tied monofilament wigs because the part is machine-made. The appearance of skin is simulated with a polyurethane section in which a machine inserts the fiber to create the look of a scalp. Although less common, skin part wigs are an affordable substitute to a monofilament wig.

A significant number of men and women are afraid of wearing wigs because of the ‘wiggy’ factor. You know, the one in which you feel like you are wearing a flashing sign announcing to everyone: “I’m wearing a wig! I’m wearing a wig!”

Obviously no one wants their hair to look like a wig. Unless you’re wearing a huge colorful wig à la Nicki Minaj, you’re probably trying to pass your wig for natural hair. The good news is wig technology has come a long way – just ask Sarah-Catherine, our contest winner. She’s been wearing wigs for many years and has seen the progress wigs have made over time (make sure to check out her interview). The fiber used for quality synthetic wigs is now so realistic, it is a great substitute for human hair. If this isn’t reason enough to convince you of how natural wigs can look, let’s chat about monofilament tops.

Monofilament Wigs

Examples of Monofilament Diagrams

What’s a monofilament top, you ask? It's simply a term used to describe the materials from which a wig’s cap construction is made. The material mono tops (short for monofilament wigs) are made from consists of a thin, mesh, nylon fabric. This thin material is ideal because it allows plenty of ventilation, which in turn makes the wig cap cool and comfortable. If you’re wearing wigs due to hair loss and you have a sensitive scalp, then this is definitely the best wig cap for you. The filament-like material is ideal for a tender scalp.

Another advantage to this material is the sheer, skin-like appearance it gives off. The sheer color helps the cap blend in with the color of your skin. This not only disguises the wig’s cap, but also gives the illusion of natural hair growth at the scalp. A double monofilament top has an extra layer of fabric for extra comfort.

Usually monofilament constructions are hand-tied, but can also be machine-sewn. Because the hair is tied directly onto the mono top, it can be parted in any given direction allowing the movement of the hair to begin at the scalp. Imagine being able to change the style around without the fear of revealing your wig!

The main difference between hand-tied and machine-sewn is the way the hair or fiber is sewn onto the monofilament mesh material. When a mono top is hand-tied, each hair is individually sewn; a machine-sewn mono top, ties groups of hair together. The advantage of each individual fiber being hand-tied is the natural flowy movement; by contrast when groups of fibers are sewn together the movement is not as free. Think about it, each strand of our hair grows out from the scalp individually, so a hand-tied monofilament mimics the natural hair growth – it’s just as real. Although more expensive, the added bonus for hand-tying each hair is in the way each hair is tightly secured, totally reducing the amount of shedding – making your wig last longer. You get what you pay for, but either technique will give you a super realistic look!

As you can see there’s truly a wig for every person. You just have to know what you want. Wig constructions will continue to evolve and improve. And we can’t wait to see what comes next!